The Reverend Charles E. Owens III (Chuck) is a grass roots believer who knows first hand the struggles and challenges of everyday life.  He is a real world disciple having spent over twenty-five years as an educator, counselor, and independent school headmaster prior to entering full-time ministry. 

During his half century in the Episcopal Church, Father Owens has served in various lay leadership roles at the parish and diocesan levels.  As a priest he has been a member of the Diocesan Council, the Commission on Ministry, Congregational Development Committee, Board of Trustees of York Place and the South Carolina Christian Action Council.  He has led many retreats to include the Diocesan Men’s Conference and most recently, with his wife, the Diocesan Couples Conference.

Relentless in his faith, Father Owens is a gifted Scriptural teacher and preacher of the Gospel and challenges members of this parish to grow in their personal relationships with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Under his leadership, The Church of the Cross has experienced phenomenal growth and has now embraced a vision for a two-campus ministry committed to reaching the unchurched in southern Beaufort and Jasper Counties.

I felt the call to ministry, was ordained as a deacon in January 1994 and as a priest in June 1994. I served for one and one half years as curate at the Church of the Redeemer in Orangeburg, SC, before becoming the Rector at The Church of the Cross in Bluffton, South Carolina in  August 1996.  In addition to numerous seminars and ongoing professional programs, my education includes a B.S., M.Ed, and D.Min.

Married for thirty-seven years, my wife, Becky and I have two grown children and five grandchildren.

 Some of my favorite authors are...

• Lyle Schaller
• Sinclair Lewis
• Mark Twain

• Moby Dick
• The Long Gray Line
• Fistful of Dollars
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Those Gallant Hours
• For the Love of the Game
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips
• Man of La Mancha